Body representations in contemporary literature written by women: an analysis of A Gorda by Isabela Figueiredo

Abstract

This article offers a reflection on how literature written by women represents female bodies and their complex experiences. To this end, I will analyze the novel A Gorda by Portuguese writer Isabela Figueiredo, published in 2016, which recounts the memories of the protagonist who undergoes bariatric surgery. The transformation of her body aims to construct a new subjectivity, as she seeks to experience a life in which she is no longer seen as a despicable being for being fat — a label her body has faced with rejection since adolescence. Thus, even though the role of literature in shaping social imaginaries has become more relative, it still holds an important place as a means of provocation and reflection. Given that literary narratives can construct new and varied — indeed, divergent — perspectives on the world, it is essential to consider the role of women’s literature in shaping social imaginaries about the body